It?s amazing just how many people astral project without even having the slightest idea that they?re doing it and this is simply because astral projection is a natural phenomenon. What needs to be learnt is the ability to astral project while you?re conscious.

While this article is an attempt to help people learn about astral projection using different techniques, you should keep in mind that astral projection is a personal experience so ideally, you need to apply a technique that works best for yourself. Furthermore, we?re taking the liberty of assuming that you are already familiar with the meaning of astral projection.

The first technique is one that you can do when you've gone to bed for the night. Let's break it down into five steps.

*Commencing with your toes, tense up and then relax each muscle. Once you?ve completed doing this with your toes, do the same tense and relax exercise with your feet, followed by the muscles in your lower legs and so on. You need to repeat this exercise on every muscle and part of your body as you work your way up, finally finishing with your facial muscles. It goes without saying that this is best done while lying down on your bed. The fundamental purpose of doing these exercises is to bring about a state of deep and absolute relaxation.

*Now that you?ve managed to achieve a state of deep relaxation, you need to bring your breathing under control and the best way to do this, is by following a technique often taught in meditation. Take deep breath and allow yourself to actually feel the movement of air as it makes its way into your lungs. Now exhale slowly, once again paying attention to the feeling of the air leaving your body. Many people find this difficult as they become so relaxed, they simply fall asleep which of course, is something you need to avoid. Mentally trying to focus on the centre of your forehead will however help you remain conscious.

*This third step focuses on the weightlessness of one?s astral body together with the weight of the physical body. Now that your physical body feels heavy, try to imagine it as being a large piece of lead, heavy and difficult to move in any way. Likewise, focus on just how light your astral body feels, comparable to a large bubble which wants to float away one the slightest hint of a breeze, or some feathers blowing away in the wind. With eyes closed, see your astral self starting to drift away, feeling the complete weightlessness of space. Yes, while your physical body may be heavy and difficult to move, your astral body has no weight at all, free to drift on the wind.

*If you get to this stage you're likely to start experiencing exquisite 'night vision ', where just like a cat you can see clearly in total darkness. Also, the room will seem like it's saturated with light, especially purple light. So, now focus your attention upon the light on the ceiling.

*This is the stage that you?ve been aiming for so you need to go through with it and whatever you do, don?t fall asleep. As you focus on the ceiling light, imagine trying to pull it down onto the bed. As you mentally pull the light towards you, you?ll more than likely experience a floating feeling. Staying conscious, continue pulling the light until you become aware of yourself actually floating and then go ahead, look down and in most cases, you?ll be able to see yourself lying on the bed.

If you?ve experienced this unique phenomenon, well done. You?ve successfully managed to astral project and are now in a position to start exploring with your astral travels. As I?ve mentioned before, different techniques work for different people so if this technique hasn?t worked for you, go ahead and attempt using this next technique.

You can do this one, known as the Gazing Method, when you're hitting the hay for night as well. You'll need an object to focus on: the moon through your window or skylight, a lava lamp, even just a nightlight; whatever can hold your attention.

Once you?re comfortable on your bed, begin focusing on the object of your choice. You need to continue focusing, without becoming distracted and looking away, until your eyes start feeling heavy. In reality, no matter how hard you try, your eyes will eventually close and when this happens, you need to continue focusing on the object. Before long you?ll experience a powerful urge to either stand up or to sit up. If this is your first successful projection, standing up and turning around can be a frightening experience for some, given that you?ll see your own body lying on the bed.

If you?re really serious about learning to astral project, you need to understand that these methods aren?t always successful on your first attempt. In all likelihood you may not even be successful with your second or third attempt either but if after that they still don?t work, don?t give up because there are still other techniques so simply try again using a new method.

It should also be said now that one?s subconscious mind is perhaps the single biggest hurdle in your road to successful astral projection, irrespective what techniques or tools you decide to employ. In order for you to be able to successfully astral project, your subconscious mind has to be convinced that it?s perfectly acceptable and natural for your astral body to leave your physical body. A highly effective tool available for doing this is by means of affirmations. Once your subconscious has adjusted and learnt to accept the concept, astral projection is very easy.

For some, conditioning one?s mind to an extent where astral projection becomes easy can take considerable time but the good news is, there are some powerful short cuts which can make it possible even after one attempt.

Perhaps the most helpful tool is hypnosis as it gets you into a perfectly relaxed state of mind and a really good session will also allow you to understand the workings of astral projection once you experience it.

Audio technology has now developed 'binaural beats ' which you can use to deeply relax and open up your subconscious mind to new spiritual experiences.

Remember, everyone is born with the ability to astral project. All the various techniques and tools such as hypnosis simply offer a little help for those who are experiencing difficulty.